In-line skate with pivoting roller

ABSTRACT

An in-line skate having a first pair of rollers rotatably mounted to a first mount and a second pair of rollers rotatably mounted to a second mount. Each mount is pivotally mounted to the skate about a separate pivot axis allowing a single roller to move upwardly or downwardly relative to the surface supporting the rollers while the remaining rollers remain in contact with the supporting surface.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention is in the field of roller skates and more specifically, in-line skates.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Roller skates typically include a front axle and rear axle which extend across the width of the skate shoe width a pair of roller wheels mounted to each axle. In the event one of the roller wheels encounters an irregularity in the supporting surface, such as a hole or ridge in the pavement, the particular roller wheel will follow the irregularity while the remaining wheels stabilize and support the skate.

With the introduction of in-line skates, the stability of the skate has been decreased since the rollers do not extend in rows across the width of the skate shoe. Instead, the roller wheels are arranged in a single row that extends from the front of the shoe to the back of the shoe. As a result, when one of the rollers contacts a projection in the supporting surface, the roller along with the shoe is lifted in elevation breaking supporting contact between the wheels and the skate decreasing the shoe stability as well as decreasing the forward speed. For example, a typical prior in-line skate is shown in FIG. 1. Skate 20 is shown as including four wheels 21, 22, 23, and 24 that are normally supported upon a supporting surface 25. In the event the wheel 21 contacts a ridge 26 or rock, the front wheel along with the front of the skate moves upwardly thereby breaking contact between not only the front wheel but also intermediate wheels 22 and 23 with the respect to the supporting surface 25. Thus, the instability of the skate increases. Further, the forward speed of the skater decreases since part of the forward motion is lost to vertical movement of the skate. What is needed is an in-line skate having a plurality of wheels that will maintain contact with the horizontally extending supporting surface even though one of the wheels encounters a hole or an upward projection in the supporting surface. Disclosed herein is such a skate.

A variety of roller skates have been devised having various shock absorbing means built into the roller mounts to absorb force caused by irregularities in the skate supporting surface. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,402,521 discloses a roller skate having the traditional rollers arranged in rows extending across the width of the skate shoe. Spring biased pistons are operable to allow each roller to move upward or downward depending upon the particular irregularity of the supporting surface. The rollers extending the length of the skate, move independently of each other. What is needed is an in-line skate with rollers pivotally connected together to direct downward force from the roller encountering the supporting surface irregularity to the roller remaining on the supporting surface. Disclosed herein is such an in-line skate.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A roller assembly mountable to a roller skate having a direction of travel along a supporting plane. The roller assembly has a roller frame that is mountable to the roller skate with a first plurality of rollers rotatably mounted to the frame about a set of parallel rotation axes extending perpendicular to the direction of travel of the skate. The rollers are arranged in a single row extending in the direction of travel. A mount pivotally mounts the roller frame to the slate about a single pivot axis parallel to the rotation axes allowing one of the rollers to leave the supporting plane while the remaining rollers on the roller frame remain in contact with the supporting plane supporting the roller skate thereon.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved in-line roller skate.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an in-line roller skate having a plurality of rollers maintaining contact with the skate supporting surface even though one of the rollers moves apart therefrom.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a roller assembly to mount to in-line roller skate having a plurality of rollers maintaining contact with the skate supporting surface even though one of the rollers moves apart therefrom.

Related objects and advantages will be apparent from the following description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is side view of a prior art in-line skate.

FIG. 2 is a side view of an in-line skate incorporating the preferred embodiment of the present invention with the rollers all supported on a horizontally extending supporting surface.

FIG. 3 is the same view as FIG. 2 only showing the lead roller contacting a ridge in the supporting surface.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of the rear roller mount.

FIG. 5 is a side perspective view of a first alternate embodiment of the roller mount.

FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 4 and viewed in the direction of the arrows.

FIG. 7 is a side perspective view of the front roller mount.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference will now be made to the embodiments illustrated in the drawings and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended, such alterations and further modifications in the illustrated device, and such further applications of the principles of the invention as illustrated therein being contemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention relates.

Referring now more particularly to FIG. 2, there is shown an in-line skate 30 incorporating the present invention. Skate 30 includes a shoe having a bottom frame 331 fixed thereto extending along the length of the shoe. A front leg 32 and rear leg 33 are integrally connected to frame 31 and have proximal ends pivotally mounted respectively to a front roller mount 34 and rear roller mount 35. A pair of rollers 36 and 37 are rotatably mounted to front mount 34 whereas a second pair of rollers 38 and 39 are rotatably mounted to rear mount 35. As shown in FIG. 2, rollers 36-39 are supported upon a horizontally extending support surface 25. Roller trucks or mounts 34 and 35 are operable to pivot in the event one of the rollers contacts either a depression or ridge (FIG. 3) in supporting surface 25 with the remaining rollers maintaining contact with surface 250. In FIG. 3, the front roller 36 is shown as pivoting upward since the roller has contacted ridge or rock 26; however, it is to be understood that the remaining rollers 37-39 will also pivot away from the supporting surface 25 in the event the rollers contact a depression or upwardly extending projection with the remaining rollers remaining in contact with surface 25.

Rear mount 35 (FIG. 4) includes a pair of parallel walls 51 and 52 joined together by cross walls, one of which is shown as wall 53 fixedly secured to and between walls 51 and 52. Walls 51 and 52 are spaced apart with wheels 38 and 39 rotatably mounted thereto. Axles 57 and 59 (FIG. 6) have opposite ends mounted to walls 51 and 52 and have suitable bearings 56 and 58 rotatably receiving respectively wheels 38 and 39.

The proximal end 60 of rear leg 33 extends wrappingly around axle 61 having its opposite ends fixedly mounted to walls 51 and 52. Proximal end 60 is not tightly secured to axle 61 allowing axle 61 and mount 35 to pivot with respect to leg 33. The rearwardly facing surface :55 of wall :53 provides a stop surface against which the forward facing surface 54 of leg 33 may contact thereby limiting the amount of pivotal motion between mount 35 and leg 33 in the event wheel 38 contacts an upwardly projecting ridge 26, then mount 35 will pivot in a clockwise direction about axle 61 as viewed in FIG. 6 maintaining wheel 39 upon supporting surface 25.

The front mount 34 (FIG. 7) likewise includes a pair of walls 70 and 71 joined together by cross walls. One such wall 74 is shown in FIG. 7 and includes a forwardly facing surface 76 forming a stop surface against which the rearwardly facing surface 75 of front leg 32 may contact when mount 34 pivots in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 7 thereby limiting pivotal motion of the mount. Wheels 36 and 37 are rotatably mounted by axles 72 and 73 having their opposite ends fixed to walls 70 and 71 with the wheels being positioned between walls 70 and 71. Suitable bearings are provided to facilitate the rotation of the wheels in a manner as described for the rear mount 35.

Axle 77 extends between walls 70 and 71 and has opposite ends fixed thereto. The bottom proximal end of leg 32 extends wrappingly around axle 77 but does not tightly grip the axle thereby allowing mount 34 to pivot with respect to leg 32. That is, the bottom proximal end of leg 32 is configured identically to proximal end 60 (FIG. 6) of back leg 33.

Roller frames 34 and 35 (FIG. 2) and wheels 36-39 are arranged to support skate 30 as it travels in the direction of arrow 70 along supporting surface 25. Frame 31 is mountable to the skate side and secured thereto by any number of means such as standard fastening devices. Rollers 36-39 have parallel axes of rotation that are perpendicularly arranged with respect to the direction 70 of travel of the skate. Rollers 36-39 are aligned in a single row extending the length of the skate along direction 70. Further, mounts 34 and 35 have parallel pivot axes that are perpendicular to direction 70 and parallel to each axis of rotation of rollers 36-39.

The pivot axis of mount 34 extends through the length of axle 77 (FIG. 7) whereas the pivot axis of mount 35 extends through the length of axle 61 (FIG. 4). Notably, mount 34 has a single pivot axis and mount 35 has a single pivot axis. Thus, when one of the rollers mounted to a particular roller mount moves upward or downward, the remaining roller on the particular roller mount remains in contact with the supporting surface 25. When the lead roller 36 pivots upward (FIG. 3) mount 34 pivots in a clockwise direction about its pivot axis extending through axle 77 with the downward force vector increasing through roller 37 insuring roller 37 remains in contact with supporting surface 25. At the same time, rollers 38 and 39 remain in contact with the supporting surface. In similar fashion, as each particular roller pivots upward or downward, the remaining rollers remain in the contact with supporting surface 25.

The side walls of each roller mount are arranged perpendicular with respect to the roller axles of rotation. For example, walls 70 and 71 are arranged perpendicular to each axis of rotation extending through the axles rotatably mounting rollers 36 and 37.

Axles 77 (FIG. 7) and 61 (FIG. 4) may be positioned at different locations with respect to the rollers thereby changing the stability and performance of the skate. In a first alternate embodiment, roller mount 80 includes a pair of parallel walls 64 and 65 secured together by a cross wall similar to wall 74 (FIG. 7). Roller 36 has an axle 87 with opposite ends secured to walls 64 and 65. Likewise, roller 37 has an axle 88 with opposite ends secured to walls 64 and 65. Suitable bearings are provided to rotatably mount rollers 36 and 37 to axles 87 and 88. The axles are located along a longitudinal axis 62 normally parallel to the surface 25 supporting the skate. A plurality of axle holes 67-69 are each located in side walls 64 and 65 to enable the positioning of axle 77 (FIG. 7) with respect to rollers 36 and 37 and longitudinal axis 62. The rotation axes of rollers 36 and 37 are located closer to the shoe mounted atop frame 31 when the axles 87 and 88 are located beneath longitudinal axis 62 thereby stabilizing the skate as the roller mounts pivot upwardly. In all cases, axle 77 is located between rollers 36 and 37 to position die pivot axis between the two rollers. Different results are provided depending upon whether the axle is located on, above, or below axis 62. For example, by extending axle 77 through holes 69, the pivot axis is located beneath axis 62 and beneath the axis of rotation of each roller thereby positioning the rollers closer to the skate shoe and increasing the stability of the skate. On the other hand, locating axle 77 to extend through holes 61 locates the pivot axis above axis 62 allowing a greater amount of pivotal motion of pivot mount 80. Locating axle 77 to extend through holes 68 positions the pivot axis along axis 62 allowing for stability and an adequate pivotal motion of the mount. Hole 68 is located equidistant between the rollers. By locating hole 67 or 69 aft of the midpoint between rollers 36 and 37 or closer to roller 37 shifts the downward force to the aft roller as the forward roller pivots upward. In all embodiments, the pivot axis of mount 34 is located between rollers 36 and 37 and the pivot axis of mount 35 is located between the rollers 38 and 39. Each roller mount 34 and 35 has a single pivot axis which is perpendicular to direction 70 and parallel to surface 25.

Many advantages of my in-line skate exist as compared to the prior art skates. Most importantly, the skate disclosed herein has increased stability since the rollers remain in contact with the supporting surface in the event that a single roller pivots upward or downward. Particularly important is providing a single pivot axis for mount 34 and mount 35 each of which has a pair of rollers rotatably mounted thereto with all of the rollers extending in a single row aligned along the length of the skate. The single pivot axis of mount 34 and the single pivot axis of mount 35 are located perpendicular to direction 70 while being parallel to surface 25 with the pivot axis and the rotational axes all being parallel.

While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, the same is to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive in character, it being understood that only the preferred embodiments have been shown and described and that all changes and modifications that come within the spirit of the invention are desired to be protected. 

1. A roller assembly to mount to a roller skate having a direction of travel along a supporting surface comprising: a first roller frame mountable to a roller skate; a first plurality of skate rollers rotatably mounted to said frame about a first set of parallel rotation axes extending perpendicular to a direction of travel of the roller skate with said rollers arranged in a single row extending in said direction of travel, and, a first mount to pivotally mount said roller frame to the skate about a single first pivot axis parallel to said rotation axes allowing one of said rollers to leave said supporting surface while the remaining rollers on said roller frame remain in contact with said supporting surface and support the roller skate thereon.
 2. The roller assembly of claim 1 wherein: said first roller frame includes first and second walls extending perpendicular to said axes and further includes a third wall joining said first and second walls together, said first arid second walls are spaced apart with said rollers positioned therebetween.
 3. The roller assembly of claim 1 wherein, said rollers include a first roller and a second roller with said mount located therebetween positioning said pivot axis between said first roller and said second roller.
 4. The roller assembly of claim 1 and further comprising: a second roller frame mountable to the roller skate said second roller frame is located aft of said first roller frame along the direction of travel of the roller skate: a second plurality of skate rollers rotatably mounted to said second frame about a second set of parallel rotation axes perpendicular to the direction of travel of the roller skate; and, a second mount to pivotally mount said second roller frame to the skate about a single second pivot axis parallel to said first set and second set of rotation axes and parallel to and aft of said first pivot axis allowing one of said second plurality of rollers to leave said supporting surface while other rollers of said first plurality of rollers and said second plurality of rollers contact said supporting surface and support the roller skate thereon.
 5. The roller assembly of claim 4 wherein: said first roller frame includes first and second walls extending perpendicular to said axes and further includes a third wall joining said first and second walls together, said first and second walls are spaced apart with said rollers positioned therebetween; and, said second roller frame includes fourth and fifth walls extending perpendicular to said second set of axes and further includes a sixth wall joining said fourth aid fifth walls together, said fourth and fifth walls are spaced apart with said second plurality of skate rollers positioned therebetween.
 6. The roller assembly of claim 5 wherein: said first plurality of skate rollers include a first roller and a second roller with said first mount located therebetween positioning said first pivot axis between said first roller and said second roller, said second plurality of rollers include a third roller and a fourth roller with said second mount located therebetween positioning said second pivot axis between said third roller and said fourth roller.
 7. The roller assembly of claim 6 wherein: said third wall and said sixth wall form stops limiting pivotal motion respectively of said first roller frame and said second roller frame.
 8. An in-line roller skate movable in a direction of travel on a surface supporting the skate comprising: a foot support: a first roller mounting bracket pivotally mounted to said foot support and having a single first pivot axis perpendicular to a direction of travel of a roller skate and parallel to a surface supporting the roller skates; a first roller and a second roller rotatably mounted to said first roller mounting bracket being arranged in a row having a longitudinally extending axis perpendicular to said first pivot axis and further having a first rotation axis and a second rotation axis both parallel to said first pivot axis; a second roller mounting bracket pivotally mounted to said foot support and having a single second pivot axis parallel to said first pivot axis; and, a third roller and a fourth roller rotatably mounted to said second roller mounting bracket and having a third rotation axis and a fourth rotation axis both parallel to said second pivot axis, said first mounting bracket and said second mounting bracket having respectively said first pivot axis and said second pivot axis arranged perpendicular to the direction of travel of the skate to allow a single roller to leave said surface white all of the remaining rollers may remain in contact with said surface.
 9. The roller skate of claim 8 wherein: said first rotation axis and said second rotation axis are located closer to said foot support than said first pivot axis stabilizing said foot support as said first roller bracket mounting bracket pivots therein.
 10. The roller skate of claim 9 wherein: said third rotation axis and said fourth rotation axis are located closer to said foot support than said second pivot axis stabilizing said foot support as said second roller bracket mounting bracket pivots thereon.
 11. The roller skate of claim 10 wherein: said first roller mounting bracket includes a first pair of parallel walls extending perpendicular to said first pivot axis, said first roller and said second roller each have axles rotatably mounted to and extending between said first pair of parallel walls, said first roller mounting bracket includes an extension with a proximal end mounted to said foot support and a pivot joint located between said first pair of parallel walls and located between said axles.
 12. The roller skate of claim 11 and further comprising: said first roller mounting bracket includes a first stop contacting said extension limiting pivotal action of said first roller mounting bracket.
 13. A roller assembly to pivotally mount to a roller skate comprising: a first roller frame pivotally mountable to a roller skate; a first plurality of skate rollers rotatably mounted to said frame about a first set of parallel rotation axes with said rollers aligned in a row extending perpendicular to said axes; and, a first mount to pivotally mount said roller frame to the skate about a first pivot axis parallel to said rotation axes allowing one of said rollers to pivot, said rollers pivot about the same first pivot axis allowing the skate to remain level although one of said rollers pivot.
 14. The roller assembly of claim 13 wherein: said roller frame includes first and second walls extending perpendicular to said axes and further includes a third wall joining said first and second walls together, said first and second walls are spaced apart with said rollers positioned therebetween.
 15. The roller assembly of claim 13 and further comprising: second roller frame pivotally mountable to a roller skate aft of said first roller frame; a second plurality of skate rollers located aft of said first plurality of skate rollers and rotatably mounted to said second frame about a second set of parallel rotation axes; and, a second mount to pivotally mount said second roller frame to the skate about a second pivot axis parallel to said second set of parallel rotation axes, said second plurality of skate rollers pivot about the same second pivot axis.
 16. The roller assembly of claim 15 wherein: said first roller frame and said second roller frame include stop surfaces to contact respectively said first mount and said second mount and limit pivotal motion of said first plurality of skate rollers and said second plurality of skate rollers. 